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Jefferson Davis Heritage TrailSM

Interpretive Marker Sites

1. Old Dan Tucker

Daniel Tucker’s Grave - This classic American folk song may have evolved from slaves singing about a minister near Elberton, Georgia. Published in 1843 by Dan Emmett (the author of “Dixie”), this tune was popular in both Northern and Southern armies.

GPS: 34.1144, -82.6728

2. Granite Veterans Monument

3. Hester’s Ferry

Hester’s Ferry - Near dawn on May 3, 1865 Confederate President Jefferson Davis, members of his cabinet and staff, plus ~2,500 cavalrymen crossed the Savannah River here into Georgia. Over the next ten days the final chapter of the Confederacy was written.

GPS: 33.9359, -82.5292

4. Chenault

Chenault (a.k.a. Chennault) - The Confederate soldiers escorting President Jefferson Davis were near rebellion. Rather than the treasury they were protecting fall into Federal hands they wanted compensation for their service. The legend of “the lost gold” began.  

GPS: 33.9079, -82.6021

5. Washington Square

Washington Square - Before noon on May 3, 1865 a weary Confederate President Jefferson Davis and small escort rode into Washington. The next morning Davis met with officials and dispersed part of the Confederate treasury, then continued riding south.

GPS: 33.7379, -82.7390

6. Raytown

7. Warrenton

8. Ogeechee Shoals

9. Griffin's Pond

10. The Brown House

The Brown House - Purchased in 1851 by the William Gainer Brown family, this house was used by General Sherman as his headquarters on the night of November 26-27, 1864.  The house has been restored and is now operated as a museum by the Washington County Historical Society.

GPS: 32.9886, -82.8098

11. Washington County Courthouse

Washington County Courthouse - On May 6, 1865, as Jefferson Davis and his escort were riding south through Washington County, they stopped long enough for two of his government’s remaining officials to conduct the last act of the Confederate treasury.

GPS: 32.9834, -82.8114

12. Tennille Station

Tennille Station - Union Major General William T. Sherman and part of his army moved through Tennille on November 27, 1864 during their “March to the Sea.” Less than six months later, on May 6, 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his escort hurriedly rode south through the same area.

GPS: 32.9360, -82.8123

13. Ball's Ferry/East Bank

14. Oconee River Crossing

15. Laurens County Courthouse

16. Parkerson Church/Overnight Camp

17. Old Abbeville Road

18. Wilcox County Courthouse

19. Evergreen Cemetery

20. Women's Relief Corps

21. The 4th Michigan Closes In

22. Fitzgerald’s Founding

23. A $100,000 Reward

A $100,000 Reward - Two days of riding north after capturing Jefferson Davis and others at Irwinville, the escorting Federal cavalry learned here from arriving reinforcements of a $100,000 reward for the capture of Davis and others, causing “a perceptible change.”    

GPS: 32.2259, -83.4696

24. Federal Pursuit

Federal Pursuit - The Pulaski Volunteers were the first local company formed in this area in early 1861. Four years later Federal cavalry rode through searching for Confederate President Jefferson Davis, then returned four days later with him as their prisoner.

GPS: 32.2832, -83.4640

25. The Fallen President

The Fallen President - Jefferson Davis, his family and other captutred Confederates, while being transported in a wagon north to Macon by the 4th Michigan Cavalry Regiment, were frequently subjected to verbal taunts and insults.  

GPS: 32.6203, -83.6002

26. The Lanier House

Hotel Lanier - Opening in 1850, the Lanier House was Macon’s premiere hotel during the war. Upon the arrival here of Jefferson Davis on May 13, 1865 under guard, following his capture three days earlier, he met with Union Major General James H. Wilson.

GPS: 32.8375, -83.6271

27. Cowles-Bond House

Cowles-Bond House - Known today as the Woodruff House, this impressive Greek Revival mansion overlooks downtown Macon. It was the headquarters of Union Major General James H. Wilson for over two months after his cavalry captured Macon in April 1865.

GPS: 32.8419, -83.6341

28. Macon City Hall 

Macon City Hall - Built in 1837, City Hall was used as a Civil War hospital, then as Georgia's temporary capitol building during and after the March to the Sea.  It was also a Confederate surrender site on April 20, 1865.

GPS: 32.8363, -83.6323

29. The Bear’s Den

The Baber-Lamar-Cobb House - Built in 1829 for Dr. Ambrose Baber, its nickname came from secessionist 2nd owner John B. Lamar. It was the wartime home of Confederate Major General Howell Cobb, and used after by U.S. Major General John T. Croxton.

GPS: 32.8391, -83.6264

30. Camp Oglethorpe 

Camp Oglethorpe - Opened in 1862, this Macon P.O.W. camp housed Federal prisoners of all ranks. By 1864 overcrowding led to many transfers to a new camp at Andersonville with mostly officers remaining here.

GPS: 32.8245, -83.6276

31. Fort Hawkins 

Fort Hawkins - An early 1800s hilltop frontier fort, it was used by Confederate artillery batteries during the July 30, 1864 fight between George Stoneman’s Federal cavalry and the Confederate defenders of Macon.   

GPS: 32.8496, -83.6118

32. Macon Defensive Fortifications

Macon Defensive Fortifications - As Federal armies penetrated further into Georgia, Macon hastily constructed an impressive ring of defensive fortifications.  General Sherman largely by-passed the city in 1864, but General Wilson did not in 1865.

GPS: 32.8517, -83.6364